Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.

The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.

Mindfulness is the key to transformation. It enables us to see our experience as it really is, free from distortion and bias.

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.

Suffering is not the end of the story; it is the middle of the story.

True happiness is not about getting rid of all our problems, but about changing our relationship to them.

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Buddhas and ordinary beings are not two. Enlightenment and delusion are not different paths.

Faith is the firm foundation, diligence the supporting pillar, and wisdom the roof of the house of practice.

Your own treasure house contains everything you need; why search outside?

We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.

When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything. When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything.

Metta is the ability to embrace all parts of ourselves, as well as all parts of the world.

The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a new state of mind, but to recognize what is already present.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

In the spiritual world there are no time divisions such as the past, present and future; for they have contracted themselves into a single moment of the present where life quivers in its true sense.

The mind is like a well-forged sword - it adapts to all situations.

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.

The real purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

In Zen there must be satori; there must be a general mental upheaval which destroys the old accumulations of intellection and lays down the foundation for a new life.

The goal of meditation is not to reach some highest place, but to remain in the place where you already are.

Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.

The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem.

Everybody has the light of Buddha within, but they don't look for it.

The practice of mindfulness begins in the small, remote cave of your unconscious mind and blossoms with the sunlight of your conscious life.

The mind is like a wild monkey, jumping here and there. But through meditation, we learn to see whatever arises in our mind with more spaciousness and clarity.

Although all phenomena are empty of inherent existence, they function perfectly well.

Each breath is a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to awaken.

The goal of the Buddhist path is not to add something to our existence but to discover something that has been there all along.

You are the master of your own mind. You can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

When we rest in awareness, we discover a peace that is always present, regardless of circumstances.